The Albert Lea finance director is moving on.

Rhonda Moen has accepted a job as finance director for Owatonna.

Albert Lea Human Resources Director Mike Zelenak confirmed Moen’s departure. He said she turned in her resignation letter on Thursday.

Moen’s last day will be Oct. 15.

Moen has been Albert Lea’s finance director since October 1993. She earns a salary of $83,000.

No one could be reached at Owatonna City Hall this morning to confirm information there. Moen also could not be reached for an interview this morning.

Zelenak said the city will begin advertising for the position.

Mayoral seat

Albert Lea City Attorney Lee Bjorndal on Thursday explained to the Albert Lea City Council what the next steps will be to fill the mayoral seat recently vacated by Mike Murtaugh.

Bjorndal said the Albert Lea City Council will formally vote Monday by resolution whether to accept Murtaugh’s resignation, which was submitted Sept. 15, a little more than a month after the death of his wife, Geri.

Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks will serve as acting mayor until the Nov. 2 general election, Bjorndal said. Then, the results of the election will determine what happens next.

The names of Murtaugh and 1st Ward Councilor Vern Rasmussen will be on the ballot, and though Murtaugh has asked residents not to vote for him, there still is a chance he could win.

Bjorndal said whoever wins the election will be appointed immediately as mayor subject to that person’s acceptance.

If Rasmussen wins the election and accepts the immediate appointment as mayor, a special election will be required for the 1st Ward seat because there’d be more than two years left in Rasmussen’s vacated term.

City Clerk Shirley Slater-Schulte estimated the cost of a special election to be at least $5,000 or $6,000. She said she thought there would also be filing requirements for the primary and special elections as well, but was unsure of those requirements Thursday night.

If Rasmussen declines the immediate appointment and wants to wait until January to begin his term, Brooks will continue as mayor pro tem through the end of the year and then a new 1st Ward councilor could be appointed in January because less than two years of that term would be remaining, Bjorndal said. There would not be a special election.

If Murtaugh wins the election and accepts the immediate appointment as mayor, no changes would be necessary with the 1st Ward seat, the attorney noted.

“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Bjorndal said. “We have to see what plays out.”

He and Slater-Schulte said they will continue to look more into the issue during the next couple weeks.